F1: Hakkinen is driving for his job

Mika Hakkinen will be driving for his Mc Laren future at the Hungarian Grand Prix this weekend.

A deal has already been struck between David Coulthard and the McLaren-Mercedes team which will give the Scot another crack at the world championship next year.

But official confirmation of the line-up for 2002 has been delayed until the team's top brass is sure it wants to take up the option on Hakkinen and maintain the longest-serving driver partnership in Formula One, which stretches back six years.

It was thought an announcement, expected at the previous race in Germany, was postponed because of Hakkinen's contractual demands. But it now appears that it is the McLaren hierarchy which is keeping its options open as it looks for proof that the former double world champion still has the same desire to be a winner.

Hakkinen, 32, has suffered from McLaren's unreliability this season, failing to finish six times, but there has also been a major question mark over his motivation with two titles under his belt, £20million in the bank and a baby son, Hugo, to dote over.

The Flying Finn, who comfortably won the British Grand Prix at Silverstone in July, has rubbished rumours that he has lost his competitive edge and insisted he wanted to continue, although his body language at several races suggested otherwise.

A source close to McLaren said last night: 'People are just waiting to see what develops before any commitments are made regarding the future.'

There is little doubt a strong performance from Hakkinen here at the Hungaroring, where he won last season, will be influential, not just in keeping the title tantalisingly out of Michael Schumacher's reach, but in securing his own position.

Fans will also be focusing on Coulthard's battle to keep the world championship out of Schumacher's clutches.

Even if, as seems likely, Coulthard misses out on his title dream, he is certain of retaining his coveted drive with one of the most competitive outfits in Formula One after a season of convincing performances marred only by the unreliability of the McLaren car.

When Coulthard arrived at the circuit yesterday, the refrain of the German national anthem was blaring out as the loudspeaker system was tested. An omen for what they suspect will happen on Sunday, perhaps?

Schumacher is looking for his seventh victory of the season, a 51st of his career to equal Alain Prost's all-time record and a fourth world championship.

The odds against Coulthard spoiling all that are enormous but he said: 'I am very relaxed and almost matter-of-fact about the weekend. I'll simply get on with my job, give it my best, like always, and look for a victory.

'I will not have lost the world championship here in Hungary whatever happens. It is decided over the course of a season by a number of elements, some of which you have control over and others you do not.

'I think I have improved as a driver, shown I am capable of winning grands prix and also a championship, if the circumstances are right. There will certainly be no finger-pointing exercises if Michael clinches the title on Sunday. Here at McLaren-Mercedes we win together and lose together.'

Hakkinen, no doubt, will be hoping that will continue to be the case here and next season.